Blowing dry starch into a papermaking furnish



Jan. 3, 1956 J. c. MARRONE 2,729,561

BLOWING DRY STARCH INTO A PAPERMAKING FURNISH Filed Aug. 26, 1952 4 I2 '7 JNVENTOR., f

,Of JOHN C. MARRONE s H54 BY ATTORNEYS BLowiNG DRY srARcH INT A PAPnRMAKnvG 1 FURNisn i i John CaMarrone, Woodliury, Comi. i

" `Application August 26, 1952, serial Nascanna 2 claims. (ci. 92--21j` This invention relates to methods of and devices for distributing particulate materials, such as starch, into other materials, such as an aqueous paper pulp mixture used in solution, wheninitially placed in contact therewith, if.

great care is not observed in the mixing process. Heretoi'ore, it has been very difficult to disperse quantitiesof dry starch particles properly in a papermxture or batch, particularly if such starch particles were of the cold swelling type, as they frequently congealed` in small masses in the mixtureand remained intact in themixture to form weak *spots in thepaper made therefrom. i

Heretofore it even has been necessaryin many instances to form a water solution ot' dry materials, such as starch,

before adding then to an aqueous paper mixture.` Such action obviously required special'mixing apparatus and" additional operations `that would `be` undesirable inthe manufacture of paper in commercial practice. i i

While the use of starch in paper manufacture is very desirable a stilfener or body reinforcement for the paper, it has not been used as frequently as might be expected, particularlyif less diiliculty was encountered in mixing the starch satisfactorily with the remaining components of a paper batch or mix. l

Accordingly, it is the general object of` the present invention to provide a new and improved apparatus of and method for distributing small dry particles into aqueous mixtures, such as are used in the manufacture of paper.

Another object of the invention `is'to provide a port` able apparatus for` use in air blasting starch particles into an aqueous paper mix.

Another object of theinvention is to provide a method of adding materials, such as starch, ,quickly and conveniently to a paper batch, whiletsuchil batch is being processed otherwise in accordance `with cqnventional practice. 1

Still another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for receiving a conventional quantity. of starch and depositing it by a turbulent air `,stream into the remaining components of a paper batch.

Yet another object of the invention is to. utilize a gravity and a suction action in drawing starch particles from a hopper, picking up such particles in an air stream` and depositing them in thepaper mixture.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will be made more apparent as the specication proceeds.

The accompanying drawing shows one currently pre- 2,729,5i Patented Jan. 3, 1956 ferred embodiment `of the apparatus for practicing the principles of the invention, and wherein:

`Fig. lis `a perspective View of a pulp beater used in paper making with the apparatus of the invention associated therewith and showing the method of the inventionj Fig. 2 isa longitudinal vertical section of the pulp beater of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 isyan enlarged longitudinal vertical section through the bloweror spray apparatus of the invention, withaportion ofthe apparatus cut away; and

Fig. 4is a vertical cross section taken on line.4-4 of Fig. 3. D j

The present'` invention, broadly speaking, resides in the air blastinglofstarch particles by a turbulent air stream `into an agitatedv aqueous paper mixture being processed by conventional paper making apparatus, such as a pulp beater. The sprayapparatus of the invention includes a spray nozzle preferably having baille means therein, means for connecting an air supply to such spray nozzle, a materiali receiving and storage chamber into which such airisupply` means discharge, the spray nozzle being connected to the discharge end of such material receiving and storage chamber, and ahopper connected to such material receiving and `storage chamber for gravity deposit of material into the chamber whereby the discharged air will pick i up, by suction particles of such material and carry the l particlesffthrouglzi"the` discharge nozzle as air is blasted` therefrom.

Reference now `should be made to the details of the structure shown inthe drawings, and` Fig. 1 indicates a pulp beater which is indicated as a whole by the numeral 1.` -This pulp beater is of conventional construction and includes an inclined floor 2 which has a dam 3 therein and an enclosure wall 4 extending around the pulp beater.

A partition 5 is positioned within the pulp beater 1 to form a continuous oval path therein for ow of material around the pulp beater as the material. therein is suitably agitated. A driven agitator drum 6 is positioned in the pulp beater 1 and it has a shaft 7 extending therefrom for connection to conventional driving means (not shown). The agitator drum 6 includes a plurality of cutter knives 8 that extend transversely of the drum and whichpass closely adjacent a back-up or cutter plate 9, positioned within the pulp beater 1 adjacent the bottom of the agitator `drum 6. A suitable hood `10 is placed over the top portion of the agitator drum 6. Thus, when the drum 6 is driven in the manner indicated, it will cause turbulence in the material received in the pulp beater, Such material normally comprises a large volume of water in which paper pulp and any other desired mate rials are present. The agitator drum 6 causes a ow of materials around the continuous circuit provided in the pulp beater and the pulp is cut into small particles as thef drum 6 forces such pulp between the knives 8 and the around its longitudinal axis at the inner end 14 thereof j Iand this aids in providing a turbulence in the air or other` gas flowing through the spray nozzle 12. The spray nozzle is designed to receive compressed air, or other suitable conveying gas, from a supply line 15 connected through suitable fittings 16 to a smaller diameter air tube 17 that terminates adjacent the inner end of the spray nozzle 12. Such air supply tube usually is positioned by a fitting 18 which engages a material receiving and discharge chamber forming member 19 which in this instance is .p 3 shown Vas comprising a conventional T fitting as is used in' the plumbing` and" associated trades: the nozzle 12 connects tothe member 19 in axial alignment with the iitting 18 but at the opposite end. ofthe--V inernber19`." v

In order to supply the material kto be sprayed'` tofthe nozzle 12; a suitable hopper 20 is 'provided in' the. apparatus and'it may be connected to the member 19.by a.

connector tube'2`1` whereby the hopper 20 is xedly; se-

cured in position with relation to the memberv191'. Av

lock nut 22 aids in holding the hopper 20 inpositionor the hopper may be brazed to the tube 21. rlhis hopper 2l): preferably has .a cover23 hinged or otherwise. remov' ably. securedthereto `at its top so thatfforeign objectscannotfall into the hopper. VAlso the cover 23 may haver The inner end'of used in paper making. Usually the materials forming thespray' apparatus IT'm'ay'be made from aluminum, cast ing the'particlesaway'from'or pas'tthepulp beaterleand materials therein. f Y

one or. more, holes 24 therein with an invertedJ-shaped f tuheQZSsecured thereinIso ythat air but not waiter may pass throughY this hole. secured'over the hole24 `for the samepurpose.

Or, a line Amesh screen may. be

.'I'l'ius, in operation, the'. hopper 20 willhave adesired amount of`rnaterial,. such. as cold. swelling vstarci-),positioned"therein,v after whiclra workman whosearmsare.

indicated at1 W. may manually take the sprayy Aapparatus llandsprfay the desired quantity ofdry material into the bath.ofinaterialfinthe'pulp-beater 1. If desired,the operator. mayv have4 a rsuitable valve (not shown) pro-l videdin the spray line ,15. or other partof the'apparatus to control .vv of. air through the apparatusy of the inven-v titan` fu'ndthat the apparatus provides an etectively dispersed streamofparticles in the air blown fromthe spray nozzle 12j. .Suchparticles thereforey individually contact thewa ter. in. the paper batch to be individually and immediately Vpicked npor mixed intosuch batch. This preventsiany. possible conglomreration of the starch particles and avoids,y the; formation of weak zones in paper formed from1the througha SO-mesh screen whereasanowy a finer grindfofV starch, such'as could pass through a 70 to 90 mesh screen,

maybe used and stillhave a'rapid. and satisfactory disper-^ sionof-suchparticles in a-paper mix.

,l It..also.may be possible to put a control nozzleorcholre such. asjare used on Shotguns on the end ofthefsprayinozn zlelzfto aid in controlling the spread of material from such1 Av nozzle which has an elongatehorzontalfsh'ape: may be used inlthespray. apparatus, if desired.

nozzle.

spray' apparatus may be used with otherconvem tional .paper makingA processes `or apparatus and could-be v used to tadd materials. vto a-paper mixwhenthe materials are ina hydrofpulpenforin a blending chest. Also the streamot.y dry particles could.be;blown1into"a paper batch before-or after it has -passedthrough a Jorda'nin'g,` mill, or

itmaybe `possible to introduce the;particlesldirectly'intoY aIordan-'mill by practicezof the invention.

Ittwllbe realized that dry gasrnust be usedfas.t1-coneV veyor for. theparticlesdischargedsince any moisture con; tact therewith: isfcompletely objectionable'.

. Intsome instances,.it may be desired to agitate the"hopper 201t`. aidin. having theA materialsilow freely therefromand-.1 conventional' means may be usedfor suchfunctio'n'.- Furthermore, in :some instances, rit mayv be'. desired. to permit-.thebaflie 13.to.rotate as by securing Va narrow crossbar. in the nozzle 12 at the discharge end thereofandf journaling the baille on its longitudinal axis on such cross bar.V

Theapparatus o f the invention may, in some'instan'ceg. beusedwith any kindof starch suchas` drum dried starch,u powdered starch, gelatinized starchgwith clays, titanium.

.In testing apparatus. such as disclosed herein,.ithas\been:

compounds, calciumfsulphateor. other. powdered materials:

Y the faster the material can be blown therein.

It is an important feature of the invention that ,the tube 17 extends past the gravity feed conductor 'tube 21 to the nozzle 12, and that a limited amount of material can ow around the tube 17 to be sucked up by the air stream discharging from the tube 17. Also, the more turbulence in the paper mixture as the starch-is added,

From the foregoing, itwill be realized that thednvention provides a method and apparatus by whichreasonable quantities of dry powder-like materials can berapidly addedto aqueous mixtures. The apparatus provides tine particles individually presented fior dispersion ,introV yan aqueoustmixture and will prevent massing of particles in such mixture so that the objects ofl the invention are thought to be achieved.

While one complete embodimentof the inventionhas been disclosed herein, it will be appreciated that modi- Y fication of this particular embodiment of the invention maybe .resortedto without departing from the scope of the invention as definedby the appended claims.

` Having thus described my invention, what i claim is: p. Il. A method of depositing starchparticles or the like intoan aqueousfpaper pulp mixture comprising the steps of moving a paper pulp mixture through a controlled closed circuit path, continuously agitating such paper pulp mixture as it is moved, providing an air stream,

moving starch particles into the air stream by gravity and suction action, creating a turbulence in the starch carrying air stream, and discharging the starch carrying air streamV onto the moving surface of the paper pulp mixture at a localized area lthereof for ready inclusion into such aqueous paper pulp mixture.

2. A method of. depositing starch particles or the like into an aqueous paper pulp mixture comprising the steps of moving a paper pulp mixture through a controlled closed circuit path, continuously agitating such paper pulp mixture as itismoved, providing an air stream, movingstarchparticles into the air stream by gravity and suctionaction, andV discharging the starch-carrying Y air stream onto the moving surface of the paper pulp mixture Vat a localized area thereof for ready inclusionv into suchaqueouspaper pulp mixture.

Rfrences Cted'in the tile of this patent LUNITED STATES iwrert'rsv 2,660,560 Pickard Nov. 24,V 

1. A METHOD OF DEPOSITING STARCH PARTICLES OR THE LIKE INTO AN AQUEOUS PAPER PULP MIXTURE COMPRISING THE STEPS OF MOVING A PAPER PULP MIXTURE THROUGH A CONTROLLED CLOSED CIRCUIT PATH, CONTINUOUSLY AGITATING SUCH PAPER PULP MIXTURE AS IT IS MOVED, PROVIDING AN AIR STREAM, MOVING STARCH PARTICLES INTO THE AIR STREAM BY GRAVITY AND SUCTION ACTION, CREATING A TURBULENCE IN THE STARCH CARRYING AIR STREAM, AND DISCHARGING THE STARCH CARRYING AIR STREAM ONTO THE MOVING SURFACE OF THE PAPER PULP MIXTURE AT A LOCALIZED AREA THEREOF FOR READY INCLUSION INTO SUCH AQUEOUS PAPER PULP MIXTURE. 